Sophie Tucker (January 13, 1886 - February 9, 1966)

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Tucker was born Sophie Kalish in Tulchyn, Ukraine. Her family emigrated to the U.S. when she was an infant, and settled in Hartford, as stated by the Hartford Courant. In 1903, at the age of 17, she was briefly married to Louis Tuck. Discontented with her husband's lack of ambition, she ended the relationship and left her family to pursue a career in show business in New York City. In an attempt to create a new stage persona for herself, she adapted her married name and became Sophie Tucker. Tucker made several classic popular recordings, including "Some of These Days," which first came out in 1911. She continued performing until shortly before her death from lung disease in 1966.

Tucker was born Sophie Kalish in Tulchyn, Ukraine. Her family emigrated to the U.S. when she was an infant, and settled in Hartford, as stated by the Hartford Courant. In 1903, at the age of 17, she was briefly married to Louis Tuck. Discontented with her husband's lack of ambition, she ended the relationship and left her family to pursue a career in show business in New York City. In an attempt to create a new stage persona for herself, she adapted her married name and became Sophie Tucker. Tucker made several classic popular recordings, including "Some of These Days," which first came out in 1911. She continued performing until shortly before her death from lung disease in 1966. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Tucker was born Sophie Kalish in Tulchyn, Ukraine. Her family emigrated to the U.S. when she was an infant, and settled in Hartford, as stated by the Hartford Courant. In 1903, at the age of 17, she was briefly married to Louis Tuck. Discontented with her husband's lack of ambition, she ended the relationship and left her family to pursue a career in show business in New York City. In an attempt to create a new stage persona for herself, she adapted her married name and became Sophie Tucker. Tucker made several classic popular recordings, including "Some of These Days," which first came out in 1911. She continued performing until shortly before her death from lung disease in 1966.